Wasps (usually yellowjackets or hornets) scavenging on dead bees or feeding on worker honey bees at flowers or at the hive entrance.
Bee hives attract a number of miscellaneous pests. Social wasps—hornets and yellowjackets—will feed on dead bees at entrance or on the ground in front of colony. True hornets (genus Vespa) are not native to the U.S. but several species have been introduced. The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is well-established, particularly in the eastern U.S. The northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) was first detected in the far Pacific Northwest in late 2019, and the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), was first detected in 2023 in the southeastern U.S. As of late 2023, neither of these two species has established or has been detected far outside the regions where they were first detected. For more information about hornets in the U.S., visit the North American Hornet Screening Tool.
Yellowjackets, both ground nesting and aerial species (Vespula spp.), are scavengers. In some regions (Pacific Northwest especially) they are capable of weakening colonies and are blamed by beekeepers for killing colonies, although they cannot do so. Trapping of early season queens (before nest establishment) and adult foragers is recommended.
Other wasps, such as mud daubers and paper wasps, may be found in and around bee hives and their nests might be found in or around stored bee equipment. They are not pests.
Other wasps or bees, including yellowjackets. There are several U.S. native wasps that may be called hornets but are not true hornets.
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Topitzhofer E, et al. 2022 update. Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon. Oregon State University Extension EM 9297. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9297-northern-giant-hornet-potential-threat-honeybee-colonies-oregon
Billings J. 2022 update. Hornets vs. Yellowjackets: Differences & Similarities with pictures. Go Pests. Accessed 2023. https://www.gopests.com/hornets-vs-yellowjackets/?msclkid=17d7a874cfca11ecb50be990d7e171b9
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OSU Extension. 2018. Yellow jackets. Oregon State University Extension. Accessed 2023. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/pollinators/yellow-jackets
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the science and art of cultivating bees to benefit humans
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